Transcript
US006122175A
United States Patent [19] Shieh [54]
COMPACT FLASH CARD ADAPTER
[76]
Inventor:
[21] Appl. No.: 09/247,584 Filed;
6,122,175 Sep. 19, 200()
5,823,796 10/1998 Bethurum 5,984,731 11/1999 Laity
Ron-Yen Shieh, P.O. B0X 82-144,
Taipei, Taiwan
[22]
[11] Patent Number: [45] Date 0f Patent
Feb. 1, 1999
Primary Examiner-Jayprakash N. Gandhi Attorney, Agent, 0r Firm-A & J
[57]
ABSTRACT
439/761 439/676
U.S. Patent
Sep. 19,2000
Sheet 1 ofs
FIG. 1
6,122,175
U.S. Patent
Sep. 19,2000
Sheet 2 ofs
FIG. 2
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U.S. Patent
Sep. 19,2000
Sheet 3 ofs
FIG. 3
6,122,175
U.S. Patent
Sep. 19,2000
Sheet 4 ofs
FIG. 4
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6,122,175 1
2
COMPACT FLASH CARD ADAPTER
FIG. 2 is an eXploded view of the compact llash card
adapter;
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is related to a compact llash card adapter
FIG. 3 is a working view of the present invention; FIG. 4 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the
and in particular to one that allows a user to connect a
present invention; and
peripheral component with PCMCIA interface with the
FIG. 5 illustrates another application of the present inven tion.
compact llash card connector of an electronic device.
2. Description of the Prior Art The Personal Computer Memory Card International Asso
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ciation (PCMCIA) was created to develop an interface specification to add peripheral components such as memory,
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to
modems, hard-drives, local area network (LAN) adapters, multimedia interface specifications etc. to notebook com
the embodiment illustrated in the drawings. Specific lan
puters. The Association published a specification which defines an interface for a 68-pin device that is the siZe of a
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
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credit card. PCMCIA cards that follow the 68-pin standard are widely available. However, as compact llash cards have become popular and are being used widely in mobile elec tronic devices such as palm-type computers, auto PC, digital
guage will be used to describe same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is
thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein being con templated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
cameras . . . etc., the peripheral components with PCMCIA
interface cannot be connected to such electronic devices
With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the compact llash card adapter according to the present invention generally comprises a casing 10, a
thereby making them become useless. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a compact llash card adapter which allows a user to connect a peripheral component with PCMCIA interface 25 female compact llash card connector 20, a male PCMCIA card connector 30, a printed circuit board 40, an indicator with the compact llash card connector of an electronic light 50, and a voltage regulating IC 45, a power switch 60 device. and a power jack 70. The female compact llash card con SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION nector 20 is mounted on an end of the printed circuit board This invention is related to a compact llash card adapter 30 40. The male PCMCIA card connector 30 is installed on
another end of the printed circuit board 40. The female compact llash card connector 20 is connected to the male PCMCIA card connector 30 via wires 41 and 42. The
and in particular to one that allows a user to connect a
peripheral component with PCMCIA interface with the compact llash card connector of an electronic device. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a compact llash card adapter includes a casing, a printed circuit board fitted within the casing, a female
indicator light 50, the voltage regulating IC 55, the power 35
positions of the printed circuit board 40. The indicator light 50 is preferably a light-emitting diode for showing in what way the situation of the printed circuit board 40 is changing.
compact llash card connector mounted on one side of the
printed circuit board, a male PCMCIA card connector mounted on an opposite side of the printed circuit board, an indicator light installed on the printed circuit board and protruding out of the casing, a power switch arranged on the printed circuit board and protruding out of the casing, a
The power switch 60 is used for selectively connecting an 40
connecting the power terminals of the female compact llash PCMCIA card connector 30. The voltage regulating IC 45 is
designed for obtaining the required voltage. The power jack 45 70 has the same structure as a socket for connecting a power
transformer. The casing 10 is composed of an upper cover 11 and a lower cover 12, in which is mounted the printed circuit
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a compact llash card adapter that allows a user to connect a
board 40, with the indicator light 50, the power switch 60 and the power jack 70 partially protruding out of the casing
peripheral component with PCMCIA interface with the compact llash card connector of an electronic device.
The foregoing objects and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate
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the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative eXample. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compact llash card
adapter according to the present invention;
10. The female compact llash card connector 20 has 50 holes, while the male PCMCIA card connector 30 has 68
pins (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 4). When in use, the female compact
these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those
skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with
eXternal direct current power or alternating current power, or
card connector 20 to the power terminals of the male
power jack disposed on the printed circuit board and pro truding out of the casing, and a voltage regulating IC mounted on the printed circuit board.
switch 60 and the powerjack 70 are arranged on appropriate
llash card connector 20 is connected with a male compact llash card connector 2 built in a notebook computer 1 so that a PCMCIA card 3 may be inserted in the male PCMCIA card connector 30 thereby allowing a user to connect a peripheral component with PCMCIA interface to connect with a male compact llash card connector 2 of an electronic device.
FIG. 4 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the 60
present invention. As shown, an end of the skeleton of a standard compact ñash card is used as a female compact llash card connector 20 and two covers 43 and 44 are
mounted on two sides of the skeleton to form the casing 10. 65
The opposite end of the skeleton of the compact llash card is connected with the printed circuit board 40 which is in turn connected with a male PCMCIA card connector 30. On
the appropriate positions of the printed circuit board 40 are
6,122,175 4
3 mounted the indicator light 50, the voltage regulating IC 45
I clairn:
(Which rnay be arranged inside or outside of the connector as required), the power svvitch 60 and the power jack 70. On both sides of the printed circuit board 40 there is a rubber
1. A cornpact llash card adapter cornprising: a casing;
pad 45 for preventing the printed circuit board 40 frorn
a printed circuit board fitted Within said casing;
having a short circuit.
a fernale cornpact llash card connector rnounted on one
FIG. 5 illustrates another application of the present inven tion.
side of said printed circuit board; a rnale PCMCIA card connector rnounted on an opposite
Accordingly, the cornpact llash card adapter according to the present invention allovvs a user to connect a peripheral cornponent With PCMCIA interface to connect With a corn pact llash card connector of an electronic device.
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It Will be understood that each of the elernents described above, or tvvo or rnore together rnay also find a useful 15
application in other types of rnethods differing frorn the type
described above. While certain novel features of this invention have been shovvn and described and are pointed out in the anneXed clairn, it is not intended to be lirnited to the details above, since it Will be understood that various ornissions,
rnodifications, substitutions and changes in the forrns and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be rnade by those skilled in the art Without departing in any Way frorn the spirit of the present invention.
side of said printed circuit board and electrically con nected With said fernale cornpact llash card connector; an indicator light installed on said printed circuit board and protruding out of said casing; a povver svvitch arranged on said printed circuit board and
protruding out of said casing; a povver jack disposed on said printed circuit board and
protruding out of said casing; and a voltage regulating IC rnounted on said printed circuit board. 2. The cornpact llash card as clairned in clairn 1, Wherein said casing is cornposed of an upper and a lovver covers.
